Morrow sets sights on championship

Feature image via: Picture It Sports

2023 NBL1 East All-Star Five member, Blake Morrow has set his sights on a title once again. Only this time, with a new team in a new conference.

Morrow headed for NBL1 Central in the offseason, and was recruited by head coach Tim Odell to the Norwood Flames.

The American import has assured his sights are set on a title win for his new side and the “accolades” of his MVP nominee season will follow. 

“I’m in a new conference [now], hopefully it won’t happen two times in a row,” Morrow told NBL Media.

 “I’m trying to be at the end of the day the guy who holds up that Central trophy,  which is my main goal. Accolades come with the winning team. Our team is so stacked that four or five different guys could get an MVP look. It would be cool to get – I just have one focus and that’s winning the championship.

“I want to get to the Central title, then win the whole thing.”

The 6’4” guard was a dominant workhorse down the stretch in the NBL1 East, as he averaged 22.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists across the 2023 season for the second on the ladder Inner West Bulls. 

Despite the impressive stats, Morrow wasn’t able to claim the NBL1 East MVP Award, with the honour going to Maitland Mustangs star Will Cranston-Lown, who led his team to the Grand Final. 

 “I think as far as the definition of Most Valuable Player, I think being on the best team and being one of the best players, it speaks for itself, statistics don’t lie,” he said. 

“It’s not even close, statistically you look at my categories, you look at my numbers, and shoutout to Will [Cranston-Lown], he can hoop for real and is a real good baller. But you look at numbers and impact winning, I think I check all those boxes.”

Shutting down any negative energy towards his MVP scare last season, Morrow seems to have fit into his new Central side perfectly. Praising each of his teammates ahead of a promising 2024 season.

“Coach Tim was recruiting me on, ‘these are some of the guys you are going to be playing with, this is what they did in the league last year’ and they’re just straight dogs, the guys that he was talking about,” the Norwood recruit said.  

“It was really enticing to see the guys before I was able to make a decision, that this could be who I would be playing with.” 

One name in particular that has made a quick impact on Morrow, is his teammate Jack Stanwix.

“Jack Stanwix, he played here last year. I’m saying it now, he’ll be on an NBL team,” he said.

“Morrow was quick to mention his other teammates for the season, hinting at a talent-packed roster for the Flames, including who he says to be ‘the best player in South Australia’.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys on the team. I think we have the best player in South Australia as far as U20’s go, Alex Dodson.”

Catch Morrow’s first game with the Norwood Flames against the North Adelaide Rockets on Sunday at 2:45pm ACDT. Watch the Game of the Week Live and Free via Kayo Freebies.